Judge Bellows ordered additional briefing on three issues: whether the CANA congregations may now demand a jury trial, various issues on the scheduling and order of the upcoming trial, and whether Church of our Saviour, Oatlands will have a separate bench trial.

Opposition to the CANA petitionsMotion to Intervene (Diocese)This motion was filed against Church of Our Saviour, Oatlands, (COSO) the only one of the 11 congregations not to consent to the Diocese and the Episcopal Church defending their interests in the case. COSO eventually dropped its opposition, and the motion was removed from the docket.Answer to Petitions (Diocese)Answer to Petitions (Episcopal Church)

ComplaintsOriginal Complaint (Diocese)This is the complaint filed by the Diocese a month after the votes at The Falls Church, Falls Church. The complaints filed against the 10 other churches are substantively identical.Original Complaint (Episcopal Church)This is the complaint filed by The Episcopal Church a month after the votes at The Falls Church, Falls Church. The complaints filed against the 10 other churches are substantively identical.

Demurrers and Pleas in Bar (CANA)This was the initial filing by each congregation, seeking to have the Court dismiss the Complaints. This is the filing of Truro, Fairfax. The filings by the other 10 churches were basically identical.

Trial Regarding Virginia Division Statute (Va. Code § 57-9)By agreement of the parties, the Court determined that it would first address issues related to the applicability and interpretation of the Virginia statute under which the congregations claim to be entitled to the property. The trial is scheduled for trial November 13-15, 19-21, 2007.

Court Ruling on Scope of 57-9 TrialExcerpts from the transcript of the September hearing on the scope of the November trial outline the Court's position after hearing oral arguments from attorneys for the CANA congregations and for the Diocese and Episcopal Church. In summary: the trial will focus on the interpretation and application of Virginia Code section 57-9 and definitions of terms contained in the statute including "division," "branch," "attached," and what it means for a church to be hierarchical within the framework of that section of the Virginia code.

Post-trial BriefsAt the conclusion of the November trial on the interpretation and application of Virginia Code 57-9 to the CANA congregations' effort to appropriate Episcopal Church property, the judge ordered that each side file three post-trial briefs which restate each side's argument and also address constitutional issues according to the following deadline schedule: Dec. 31; Jan. 11; Jan. 17. The briefs will be made available through the links below which will be activated as briefs are filed.

Attorney General Moves to InterveneOn Thursday, Jan. 10, Attorney General Robert McDonnell filed a motion to intervene in the dispute to defend Virginia law and oppose the position of The Episcopal Church and The Diocese of Virginia. The Judge has asked that the Diocese and The Episcopal Church respond with their position on the motion on Thursday, Jan. 17.

Court Issues Initial Ruling on Applicability of 57-9(A)On the evening of April 3, 2008 the Circuit Court of Fairfax County issued a letter ruling on the applicability of Virginia Statute 57-9(A). The court found in favor of the CANA congregations but explicitly did not rule on constitutional or property issues.Letter Opinion and Order on the Applicability of Virginia Statute Sec. 57-9(A)